“Mabrouk” mom/dad :)! Bambi will start by thanking you for having offered your children life, love, roots, wings, and a living example of a beautiful 56-year-long union (63 if we count all your years of love since youth) ❤️.
This being said, it is now time for music! Yes, with MUCH love, your fawn would like to offer you mom and dad four songs, which are interpreted by different artists.
The first melody is Fairouz’ love song, entitled “Ana la habibi wa habibi ily” [“I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me”], and in three versions: the original, subtitled in English, followed by two other versions by two talented artists, namely Ms. Talia Lahoud and Mr. Eido el Fakir. Bambi just discovered Mr. el Fakir whose voice and sensitivity moved her heart.
The second melody is by our own Mr. Daniel Lavoie. Mom, guess what this great Canadian artist will sing for you today? Yes, you likely got it right: “Ils s’aiment comme des enfants” [“They love each other like children do”] in a duo with the fabulous Ms. Luce Dufault.
Now, perhaps you are wondering if Bambi is too romantic today. Maybe. This is why your third song is just meant to encourage you to dance. Yes, it is Mr. Ramy Ayash’s “Mabrouk” [“Congrats”] Lebanese song. A melody to move? Sure. Just make no mistake. This song has a touch of oriental sentimentalism. You cannot escape it :).
As for your fourth and last song, it is an invitation not only to dance, but also to joyfully socialize with your loved ones. Yes, it is Mr. Hicham El Hajj’s “Yalla Nifrah” [“Let’s Rejoice“]’s melody, hoping you will enjoy listening to it.
To conclude this post, once again, “Alef Mabrouk” mom and dad ❤️. Have fun!
This post is BOTH about Québec’s proposed bill 96 on the French language and Canada’s virtuous words about its Indigenous people. As a reminder, these words are repeated over and over without political concrete actions to improve people’s quality of life (e.g., basics needs like clean water, etc.) or to change laws, namely the “Indian Act”.
To begin with, Bambi is with respect and love for all in Canada, in her birth country, and anywhere else in our world. Specifically, although she loves all languages, she is and will always remain in love with the langue de Molière, as many of the readers of this blog know, and she loves her Québec (and Canada) dearly.
In her mind, one thing is clear, Québec’s official language is French (while New Brunswick is the only province of our country that is officially bilingual). The earlier posts, shown further below, reveal some of Bambi’s thoughts regarding the French language and the need to protect, and even cherish, it.
Now what about Bill 96? Bambi started her thought process about such a bill from the following perspective: (1) It is up to Québec to decide what is best for Québec and (2) Yes, there is a need to keep protecting, and ideally loving, the French language in our country (and in the world, including Lebanon). She still thinks the same, of course.
However, after taking the time tonight to read more about Bill 96 following a discussion with a couple of friends, she is VERY worried about Bill 96, namely on its negative impact on both English-speaking Québeckers (minority) and the French-speaking Québeckers (majority) (https://rb.gy/xfbfwu).
Indeed, Bambi sees the potential excesses of this bill. In her dictionary, this is called potential governmental overcontrol. The application of this bill risks becoming unfair and even ugly to businesses established in Québec. It risks becoming discriminatory to English-speaking Québeckers whomever they are. Mind you, if one of the faithful readers of this blog (Bambi will name you Fred) is reading now, he will be surprised to see Bambi likely agreeing with him for the first time of their lives…
If she understands Bill 96 well, L’Office de la langue française (OLF) can walk into a company and confiscate its computers to find evidence that work emails have been sent in French. Can you imagine? An English-speaking friend of Bambi even argued, and Bambi agrees, that this bill is unfair to French-speaking elementary and high-school kids as it prevents them from pursuing college in English.
Usually In life, learning another language (especially the international English) opens new horizons and helps build careers as well as bridges among people and nations. So, where do we draw the line between the need to protect the French language and protecting the rights of Québec residents whomever they are (ie., speakers of the language of Molière or Shakespeare or allophones)? Is the Government of Québec truly protecting the French language or trying to please this or that group? Does is really care for the language enough to remind Mr. Trudeau of the need to keep managing its immigration (both in terms of selection and numbers)? Why don’t we hear about the latter more and less so about new legal frameworks to interfere in businesses or with young people’s educational aspirations? Why is Québec going down this road of potentially intrusive governance, forgetting about cherishing its most precious value: the respect of individual freedom/choices! Why does it seem to be behaving like the rest of Canada, but for different reasons?
Talking about the rest of Canada, Bambi will make two comments. One about Bill 96 and the other about the latest example of excesses of our virtuous words.
First, Bill 96 ensures the role of Québec in the development of Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada, in the promotion and enhancement of the French language in the actions of Administration in Canada and abroad (https://rb.gy/xfbfw). Isn’t this latter odd when Québec does not want the rest of Canada to interfere in its affairs? Why is it interfering now in Canada’s affairs, domestically and abroad? What does all this mean?
Second, concerning Canada’s ideologies now, Bambi would like to thank Mr. Jonathan Kay for tweeting the following:
Bambi has criticized excesses of our ideologies in medical conferences in an earlier post (shown further below). Today, those excesses seem to have taken a new level of absurdity. After all, whether in Québec or the rest of Canada, we are all in the middle of our collectively insane times.
To conclude this post, Bambi will raise one question and sing one song: (1) Why can’t we be free to say no to excessive ideologies in our universities and excessive policies in our provinces? and (2) Ms. Nana Mouskouri’s song on liberty is what comes to her mind before sleep.
Bambi just discovered this lovely Lebanese patriotic song, thanks to one of her preferred internet radio stations. The singer-songwriter is called Mr. Michel El Khoury. She found his song on Youtube. The video shows very beautiful images of Beirut. The music incorporates parts of the Lebanese National anthem’s music. Clearly, this artist loves his country and has a beautiful voice. Bravo and thanks to him.
Thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for her re-tweet on inflation and tweet on the fees of one single mental health consultation in Lebanon:
The first re-tweet is about how much 100,000 Lebanese pounds (or “Lira“) are trading now against the US$ compared to 2 years ago. Indeed, the Lira plunged to “new all-time low against dollar“, according to L’Orient Today (https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1300576/lira-plunges-to-new-all-time-low-against-dollar.html) where we can read the following: “The Lebanese lira breached its all-time low of LL33,700 to the US dollar on Monday, trading above LL34,000 to the dollar on the parallel market… The lira’s losses have exceeded 20 percent since May 15, the day of the parliamentary elections.“
Ms. Azar-Douglas’ second tweet is in French and it literally means: “A visit to a health professional now costs 1,700,000 Lebanese pounds, more than twice the minimum wage.“
How sad for Lebanon and its citizens who have been going through an economic hell since October 17, 2019 (i.e., the banking sector crash). All this is a sad yet logical outcome of decades of systemic corruption and/or mismanagement of public funds.
Good luck to Lebanon, which is fighting to save itself from… itself. Even if a recovery plan is implemented today, the economic or healing journey will take many years. Why doesn’t the official Lebanon start the work NOW? What is it still waiting for?
To conclude this post on a musical note, one song comes to Bambi’s mind now. It is in French and it means the “Cedars of Lebanon”. Thanks to the talented Mr. Mario Pelchat (Québec, Canada) for his beautiful and meaningful song. It remains timely…
Bambi will stop any comment here as this post is strictly meant to honour the memory of Mr. George Haddad. May God know how to comfort his family and help his country. If she may, she would like to pay tribute to Mr. Haddad, and indirectly also to his country, with an Arabic prayer she loves dearly. It comes from the Maronite, or Catholic, Christian worship or liturgy…
If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate this Watari-produced masterpiece of a song to her friends in Canada and abroad. Some are now telling themselves “Hallelujah” because God protected their child today. With them in solidarity, Bambi and her spouse are also saying “Thank Goodness” ❤️. Other good friends are going through delicate times of sorrow or coping. Bambi’s heart goes to them too across the miles.
Along with the YouTube video above, we can read the following:
“Vocals MEA – Hallelujah [Acapella Version] (2020) / هللويا
Shawarrma: A picture taken from the internet and previously posted on this blog
Mr. Pierre Poilievre, one of Ottawa’s talented and perhaps promising federal politicians, recently made a point about the value of bitcoins by purchasing the most preciously delicious item in the world… Yes, a Lebanese shawarma made in Ottawa :).
Regardless of any economic point he wanted to score, being clever and having known how to encourage Mr. Justin Trudeau to answer “yes/no” questions in former ethics investigations, Mr. Poilievre seems to have a good culinary taste. If only for the latter, bravo to him.
If she may, and to thank him for honouring the shawarma, Bambi will offer him three videos. The first one is produced by the funny yet serious Mr. Marc Hachem from Montreal (Québec). In it, he argues for the need of cryptocurrency in his birth country, Lebanon. The second video shows us the “secrets” of shawarma-making (subtitled in English), from out of Lebanon, thanks to Mr. Anthony Rahayel. As for the last but not least video, it is a kids’ lunch song.
Bitcoins or not, beef or chicken shawarma, with or without garlic or maybe an alternative vegan sandwich, whether you are allergic to the Conservative Party of Canada, a fan, or like Bambi at an equal distance from all political parties, bon appétit or “Sahteen” to all of you, as they say in Lebanon. The latter literally means: “I wish you two health” (likely one of them for your belly and the other for your spirit)!
Bambi is biased. Yes, she adores Three Dakat. This being said, the melody of this Egyptian love, summer-related, song is lovey to the ears, even when interpreted by chipmunks :).
For those of you who do now know this song, here is its original human version interpreted by a talented, apparently Lebanese, singer/guitarist Bambi just discovered. His name is Mr. Paul Waked (https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulWaked/featured).
This brief musical post will end with all the older posts featuring this song.
May your hearts beat, three memorable “dakat”, for what you appreciate in a particular moment: Life itself, a vigorous dance you enjoy, a beautiful sunset or a landscape, the love of your life or a new date, a reunion with your children, other family members or dear friends, etc.
The grand lyrics were written by the talented Mr. Mike Massy in 2018 in standard Arabic. The two voices together are magnificent. The music is beautiful. The song moves Bambi’s heart. Thank you!
While
confusion is calling out from every miserable mother
Hopefully
the reassuring speech
will
heal the wounds of what is broken
the
wing of a captive bird
that
managed to fly away
We
go but we do not leave
And
a song remains
For
those whose hopes are dying in exile
We
go but we never leave
And
a song remains
For
those whose hopes are dying in exile
We
may cry and not call for a kiss
Taking
us to shores that sail
To
the calm of a storm among the cities
Between
the cities are soaked
Overwhelmed
by the alienation
indifferent
to the cruelty planted
in
the heart of a woman waiting for her lover to return
We
maybe holding on to hands
tired
of peace and tired of wars we draw
Around
the boundaries of the imagination of a child playing unaware
of
what is going on on this planet
That
turns a blind eye to what it sees refusing to see the refusal of a shy reality
We
go but we do not leave
and
a song remains
for
those whose hopes are dying in exile
We
go but we never leave
and
a song remains
for
those whose hopes are dying in exile
And
even if the wall of fear is higher
Than
what our dreams can see
And
even if the noise of silence
is
louder than our voices
There
is no light or darkness,
And
no wars or peace
Unreachable
for those who dream mighty dreams
We
go but we never leave
and
a song remains
for
those whose hopes are dying in exile
We
go but we never leave
and
a song remains
for
those whose hopes are dying in exile
We go but we never leave”.
ربما نصفح عن عيون خانت امما” بالتساوي و بالمرارة نحتسي كأس المرؤة و العفو حتي المصائب تشتري لكن حزن من يرحل ما من مجيب لحزنهم لصمتهم لقتلهم ربما نمشي في دروب ثائرات علنا ننسي تلك العيون الخائفة و الحيرة يدوي ندائها في كل أم بائسة عل الكلام المطمئن يشفي جراح ما يكسر جناح طير يأسر ثم يطير نذهب و لا نرحل و تبقي أغنية تغني لكل من ماتت آماله في غربة ندهب و لا نرحل و تبقي أغنية تغني لكل من ماتت آماله في غربة ربما نبكي و لا نستغيث بقبلة ترمي بنا علي شواطئ تبحر الي هدوء عاصفة بين المدائن غارقة في غربة لا تكترث لقسوة ورثت في قلب إمرأة تنتظر عودة لحبيبها ربما نمسك بأيادي متعبة من سلام و من حروب نرسمها علي حدود من خيال طفل يلعب غافلا عما يدور في كوكب يغمض جفونه عما يري من حقيقة خجولة رافضة نذهب و لا نرجل و تبقي اغنية تغني لكل من ماتت آماله في غربة نذهب و لا نرحل و تبقي أغنية تغني لكل من ماتت آماله في غربة و ان كان جدار الخوف يعلو فوق أمالنا و ان كان ضجيج الصمت يعلو فوق اصواتنا لا ضياء و لا ظلام و لا حروب و لا سلام يستحيل علي من ينام بأحلام شاهقة نذهب و لا نرحل و تبقي أغنية تغني لمن ماتت آماله في غربة نذهب و لا نرحل و تبقي أغنية تغني لمن ماتت آماله في غربة “نذهب و لا مرحل
There is a reason why Québec is called “La Belle Province“. It is beautiful!
Of course, this part of Canada is stunning not just because of its beautiful landscape, but also its wonderful and welcoming people.
If you do not believe Bambi, go visit Québec’s charming regions, especially the Maritime part of the province (neighbouring the lovely New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada).
How about the Gaspésie, as a start? Thanks to her dad, Bambi and her family had the chance to visit this region three times in the 1990s (when living in Montreal).
Well, today’s post is specifically meant to share a picture recently taken by one of Bambi’s talented friends. She will name Gina, thanking her for having kindly accepted to share her picture with all of you via this blog!
Sunset in Gaspésie (Québec, Canada). A picture taken by Gina.
In addition to the beauty of the moment that Gina captured in her camera’s lens, this picture is making Bambi literally dream of the forthcoming day that will follow both this sunset and the imminent night.
A sunset precedes the dawn and announces a “fresh” hope for a better day after the darkness of the night (link to the older post below?). Bambi appreciates sunsets, but loves dusk times (time in between the sunset and the night), perhaps precisely because of the “promise” of a new day. In her mind, there is serenity in knowing that life (with its days, nights, seasons, etc.) will always go on, that is regardless of happy or adverse times and despite grief following meaningful losses, including the death of a loved one or our own finality.
To conclude this post, how about first starting with a wish? May your forthcoming day, and our first long weekend of the summer, be as beautiful as you want it to be. Second, please find below a video (with beautiful images) and Mr. Félix Leclerc’s French song about Gaspésie!
